Sport
21 July, 2026
Navarre shocks Natte after dazzling third term
The Navarre Grasshoppers have stunned old rivals Natte Bealiba with arguably their biggest A grade triumph in years, boosting their premiership stocks with an emphatic 66-48 victory.
A decade on from completing a historic four-peat, Navarre are arguably Avoca’s gravest threat to matching that momentous achievement after shell shocking the Swans with a blistering third quarter.
While Natte were without emerging shooter Chelsea Ross and top defenders Naomi Medlyn and Ellie Martin, that shouldn’t discredit the Grasshoppers’ memorable victory that leapfrogged them past the Swans into second.
As they attempted to replace Ross, Medlyn and Martin, Natte brought major reinforcements to Navarre Sports Complex.
Alongside the return of midcourter Ebony Raven and Eve Mortlock replacing 18 and under teammate Ross at goal shooter, 2025 A grade leading scorer Emma Ryan was back after suffering a foot injury at the start of May, named on the interchange bench.
The Grasshoppers also entered Saturday’s blockbuster with some alterations as they looked to avenge their round one defeat to the Swans.
Junior standouts Chloe Cassidy and Reanna Stewart were welcomed back into the side, deputising for Amber Perry and Grace Long.
Identical to their thrilling season opener, nothing could separate two of the competition’s elite teams during an exhilarating first quarter.
With Raven immediately hitting her stride alongside Ella Tranter and Macy Tatchell, Natte’s midcourt ensured Mortlock sisters Eve and Sian quickly made their presence felt on the scoreboard.
Cassidy and Eve Mortlock resumed their duel from their 18 and under encounter earlier in the afternoon, with Mortlock getting the upper hand on the MCDFNL junior representative.
Assisted by Sidney Dyer and Brooke Currie’s entry passes, Navarre’s high-octane shooting duo of Zanaiya Bergen and Aliza Lockhart kept pace with their Natte counterparts throughout the opening term, which ended with the hosts leading 15-14.
Despite the Grasshoppers and Swans fighting valiantly on the defensive end, centre breaks remained at a premium after quarter time.
When breakthroughs finally arrived for the Swans, Tranter, Raven and Sian Mortlock were there to capitalise, helping Natte take a one-goal lead into half time.
After an evenly matched first half, both teams rolled the dice at the main break.
The Grasshoppers elected to move Jade Allen into the defensive goal circle to pair with Jess Parry. Stewart also came off the bench to take the wing defence bib to start the second half.
The Swans went for an even bigger gamble, bringing on Ryan for her first appearance since round four at wing defence to provide more size and court coverage. The change also allowed Chloe Ross to shift into centre.
While both teams hoped their bold alterations would provide a definitive edge, Navarre astonished Natte, and possibly themselves, with a fairytale third term.
Allen immediately made her presence felt alongside Parry, with the defensive duo restricting Natte’s access to the Mortlock sisters.
As pressure continued to mount, untimely turnovers reared their ugly head for the Swans, a spell of mistakes the punished with their potency.
With Alex Williams constantly patrolling Bergen in her 200th game for Natte, Lockhart was given additional scoring responsibility and flourished to help Navarre take a 11-goal three-quarter time lead after a stunning 20-8 third term.
Natte tried to recover from that devastating quarter by bringing on one of B grade’s top scorers, Meg Weir, to replace Eve Mortlock.
Weir did go five of six shooting in the fourth, but Navarre’s third quarter damage proved unrecoverable for the Swans, who suffered their second consecutive defeat.
Lockhart was instrumental in sealing Natte’s fate, ending with 36 goals with 88 percent shooting alongside Bergen, who scored 30.
Sian Mortlock matched Bergen’s production for the Swans with 30 goals while Eve Mortlock ended with 13 goals.